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Wednesday, June 24, 2015

American and British sign language - where to learn it and why

Travelling on Singapore Airlines
This is surprisingly easy to learn. Watching safety videos on Singapore Airlines I always thought that sign language was easy.

Why Learn It?
Of course you need somebody else who can speak it. You can understand anybody who is deaf and using sign language on a train. Or use it to signal in a noisy situation.

Contact deaf people in the USA, UK or elsewhere. Communicate with elderly relatives (persuade them to learn it) when they have forgotten their hearing aids.

Mandela's Funeral Fake Sign Language
The most amusing deaf language story is the man who was supposed to be signing at Mandela's funeral. Many TV viewers who could understand sign language realised the translator's signs were meaningless.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/10510455/Nelson-Mandela-memorial-interpreter-was-a-fake.html

See it for yourself here (you can click skip ad if you like):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StEFnh18zRk

Learning American Sign Language
If you want to learn American sign language the easy quick, fun way, watch this video -
100 words signed by a man, copied by a woman, with the words on a screen between them:

http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/concepts.htm

PS The latest politically correct term seems to be hard of hearing. Which is different from profoundly deaf, which is much rarer.

General View Of History and Geography of Sign Language
A general view of different forms of sign language:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_language

British
Unfortunately, sign language like written language has variations.
http://www.british-sign.co.uk

Sign Language With Animals
Animals which use gestures and cannot pronounce word can learn sign language. Chimpanzees and dogs have been taught sign language.

I have just written a story for children and adults about a talking dog.

The first version is up on the web and you can read the preview.

http://www.lulu.com/shop/angela-lansbury/larry-the-talking-labrador-and-the-escaped-lions/paperback/product-22229490.html

I am trying to add some amusing stories, factual information and plot twists. Later I shall publish a revised version with illustrations. Any suggestions for adding plot and pace would be welcome.

Angela Lansbury, B A Honours, Author, travel writer and photographer, English teacher.

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